Method and system for the integrated storage and dynamic selective retrieval of text, audio and video data

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an automated system to input text, audio and video data, to integrate the storage of the data at a central location, to initiate queries of search criteria to the central location from remote locations, and to dynamically transmit text, audio and video data to the remote locations in accordance with the search criteria.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the integrated storage, searching,and dynamic, selective retrieval of text and video data for differentapplications including employment. More particularly, it pertains to anautomated system to input text, audio and video data, to integrate thestorage of the data at a central location, to initiate queries of searchcriteria to the central location from remote locations, and todynamically and selectively transmit text, audio and video data to theremote locations in accordance with the search criteria.

BACKGROUND

This invention involves a system and method for the integrated centralstorage and remote dynamic retrieval of text, audio, and video data fordifferent applications including, but not limited to, an employmentsearch system. The invention is particularly adapted for the input oftext, audio and video data from employment candidates, the integratedstorage of this employment data, and the dynamic, selective retrieval oftext, audio, and video data at remote locations by employers based ontheir requirements.

Many different applications would benefit from a system which supportsthe integration of text, audio, and video data within a search systemfor the dynamic, selective retrieval of the data matching searchcriteria. For example, sellers and candidate buyers of real estate coulduse a real estate system which would enable a buyer to view text andvideo data on available residences which match the buyer's requirementson price, cost, tax, location, school district, floor space, yard size,etc. Also, a multimedia search system could be used in an athleticscouting service for viewing text and video data on available highschool, college or professional athletes which match criteria on height,weight, age, athletic achievements such as basketball shootingpercentage, baseball batting average, baseball fielding percentage,hockey goals, etc.

Other systems have disclosed the central storage and remote selectiveretrieval of text or video data. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,111discloses a system and method for electronically executing transactionswith a preprogrammed main computer having data and image storage andretrieval equipment. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,870,576 and 5,032,989 disclose asystem and method for locating real estate comprising a graphicalinterface for selection of a search area by a buyer.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,738 discloses a video information systemcomprising a plurality of video servers and a selection mechanism toenable each of a plurality of remote clients to select a video from alibrary. U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,282 discloses another video informationsystem wherein each of a plurality of remote user stations issuescontrol signals to selectively retrieve video signals from a centralvideo server.

However, none of the previous systems enables the dynamic, selectivetransmission of text and video data to remote locations in accordancewith queries of search criteria initiated at remote locations asrequired by different applications such as an employment search service,or an athletic scouting service. Accordingly, there exists a need for asystem and method to input text and video data, to integrate the storageof the data at a central location, to initiate queries of searchcriteria to the central location from remote locations, and todynamically and selectively transmit text and video data to the remotelocations in accordance with the search criteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a system and method to input text, audio, andvideo data, to integrate the storage of the data at a central location,to initiate queries of search criteria to the central location fromremote locations, and to dynamically and selectively transmit text andvideo data to the remote locations in accordance with the searchcriteria.

In particular, it is an aspect of the present invention to present asystem for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval ofmultimedia data in accordance with specified search criteria comprising:

one or more servers comprising:

at least one input system for inputing text, audio, and video data;

at least one database collection for integrated storing of the text,audio, and video data wherein the input utilities store the text, audio,and video data the indexed collections;

at least one search system for inputing search criteria and forsearching the database collection for the text, audio, and video datamatching the search criteria;

at least one audio/video system for dynamically displaying the matchingaudio data and video data;

at least one client for specifying the text, audio, and video data andthe search criteria and for viewing the text, audio, and video data; and

a communication network for communication between the servers and theclients.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to present a system formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria wherein the inpututility further comprises:

an audio/video input system for inputing the audio data and the videodata; and

a text input utility for inputing the text data.

The present invention further presents a system for multimedia datastorage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria wherein the search systemfurther comprises:

a query filter for parsing the search criteria and creatingcorresponding queries and for restricting the corresponding queries topredetermined data of the text, audio and visual data;

a search engine for searching the indexed collections for the searchcriteria; and

a search display utility for displaying the text, audio, and video datamatching the search criteria.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to present a method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria comprising the stepsof:

inputing text, audio and video data with at least one input utilityexecuting on one or more servers;

integrated storing of the text, audio, and video data in at least oneindexed collection with the input utilities;

inputing search criteria and searching the indexed collection for thetext, audio, and video data matching the search criteria with at leastone search system;

dynamically displaying the matching audio data and video data with atleast one audio/video system;

specifying the text, audio, and video data and the search criteria withat least one client;

viewing the matching text, audio, and video data with the clients; and

communicating between the servers and the clients with a communicationnetwork.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to present a method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria wherein the inputingtext, audio and video data step further comprises the steps of:

inputing the audio data and the video data with an audio/video inputsystem; and

inputing the text data with a text input utility.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to present a method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria wherein the inputingsearch criteria and searching the indexed collection step furthercomprises the steps of:

parsing the search criteria and creating corresponding queries with aquery filter;

restricting the corresponding queries to predetermined data of the text,audio and visual data with the query filter;

searching the indexed collections for the search criteria with a searchengine; and

displaying the text, audio, and video data matching the search criteriawith a search display utility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the invention will be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description along withthe accompanying drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the major operational elements of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing the input and integrated storage oftext, audio, and video data;

FIGS. 3a-3 d display a sample fill-out form for input of text data;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing the initiation of queries and thedynamic, selective display of the search results at remote locations;and

FIG. 5 displays a sample search fill-out form for the input of queriesat remote locations.

FIG. 6 displays a sample formatted page 600 of the search results.

FIG. 7 displays a sample focus page 700 of the selected result.

FIG. 8 displays a sample resume page 800 associated with the selectedresult.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is an automated system to input text and videodata, to store the data at a central location, to initiate queries ofsearch criteria to the central location from remote locations, and toselectively transmit text and video data to the remote locations inaccordance with the search criteria. Accordingly, the present inventionprovides a system for multimedia data storage and dynamic selectiveretrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specified searchcriteria.

Without limitation, the system and method of the present invention canbe explained within the context of an employment service calledREZVU^(SM). REZVU^(SM) inputs text and audio/video data from employmentcandidates and stores this data in a database at a central location.REZVU^(SM) inputs search criteria from employers seeking employmentcandidates and performs a corresponding search of the database.REZVU^(SM) displays text and audio/video data for the employmentcandidates matching the search criteria.

While the present invention will be explained within the context of anemployment service, it is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthat the present invention can be applied to any application which wouldbenefit from the storage of text and audio/video data and the selectiveretrieval of the data which matches specified search criteria. Forexample, the present invention could be used in a real estate system bya buyer to view text and video data on available residences which matchthe buyer's requirements on price, cost, tax, location, school district,floor space, yard size, etc. Also, the present invention could be usedin an athletic scouting service for viewing text and video data onavailable high school, college or professional athletes which matchcriteria on height, weight, age, athletic achievements such asbasketball shooting percentage, baseball batting average, baseballfielding percentage, hockey goals, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the major operational elements of theinvention. A text input utility 108 executing on the central server 106defines fill-out forms, processes the data specified on the fill-outforms and stores the data in a database 110. Preferably, the format ofthe fill-out forms to input the text data is specified with theHyperText Markup Language (HTML). HTML is a collection ofplatform-independent styles that define the various components of aWorld Wide Web document as specified in “A Beginner's Guide to HTML”,The National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dec. 10, 1997, webmaster@ncsa.uiuc.edu,the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Preferably, the text input utility 108 is a script executing on thecentral server 106. An exemplary scripting tool is Cold Fusion. ColdFusion is a Web application tool for creating dynamic-page applicationsand interactive Web sites by combining standard HTML files with ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) tags as specified in “Cold-Fusion”,http://www.allaire.com/services, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference. Alternatively, the text input utility 108 isa program written in a language which manipulates text, files, andinformation, executing on the central server 106. An exemplary languageis Perl as specified in, Programming Perl, Larry Wall and Randal L.Schwartz, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., March 1992 (“Programming Perl”),the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Exemplary databases 110 include: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access1.0, 2.0 and 7.0, Microsoft FoxPro 2.0, 2.5 and 2.6, Oracle 7.0, BorlandParadox 3.X and 4.X, Borland dBase III and dBase IV, and Microsoft Excel3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. Cold Fusion is compatible with the Microsoft ODBC(Open Database Connectivity) Desktop Drivers which includes support forthese databases 110. Cold Fusion, pg 4.

The audio/video encoder 133 inputs audio/video signals. For example, theaudio/video encoder 133 can input audio/video signals from a VideoCassette Recorder (VCR) 130. Preferably, the audio/video encoder 133 isa workstation having a video card and an audio card to digitize videosignals and to digitize audio signals respectively.

The extraction utility 112 transfers the data from the database 110 to abulk insert file (bif) 114. A style file 116 defines the format of thebif 114. An indexing utility 118 transforms the data from the bif 114 toan indexed collection 120 which can be accessed by a search engine 128.Preferably, the search engine 128 is Verity available from Verity, Inc.as described in, “Introduction to Verity Search Technology”,http://www.verity.com/support/, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference. Preferably, the style file 116, the indexingutility 118, the indexed collection 120, the query filter 140, and thesearch engine 128 reside on the collection server 122. The VerityInformation Server architecture allows seamless communication with thecentral server 106. Exemplary communication protocols include NSAPI forNetscape Servers, ISAPI for Microsoft Internet Information Server andCGI for other servers as the Verity Information Server architecturesupports these communication protocols. Preferably, the indexing utility118 for use with Verity is mkvdk.

A query filter 140 executing on the collection server 122 definesfill-out forms and processes the search criteria specified on thefill-out forms to create queries for the collection server 126.Preferably, a script executing on the central server 106 processes thesearch criteria. Preferably, the scripting language is VeritySEARCHScript. SEARCHScript provides a common framework for developingWeb applications with different applications. For example, SEARCHScriptlets you customize search result displays with commands to access thenext page or the next document. (See “Introduction to Verity SearchTechnology”, pg 4.). Alternatively, a program written in a languagewhich manipulates text, files, and information, processes the searchcriteria on the central server 106. An exemplary language is Perl. SeeProgramming Perl.

The Verity query language supports a standard full text query or a queryby example. The standard full-text query ranges from a simple one-wordquery to a complex query expression. The various kinds of full-textqueries include a single word, a phrase where the two words must befound together in the document, multiple words separated by simpleboolean operators (AND, OR), zone (i.e. title, author, etc.) queries andmultiple words separated by advanced operators (i.e. <PARAGRAPH>). Thequery by example allows searchers to cut and paste a few lines or aparagraph of text from a document. See “Introduction to Verity SearchTechnology”. The query filter 140 may restrict the queries to a specificindexed collection 120. Preferably, the query filter 140 is the VerityServer Component called Query Filter.

The search engine 128 searches the indexed collection 120 in accordancewith the queries from the query filter 140. Before performing thesearch, the search engine 128 optimizes the queries as specified inDatabase System Concepts, Henry F. Korth, Abraham Silberschatz,McGraw-Hill 1986, Chapter 9, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference. Preferably, the search engine 128 is theVerity Search '97 Information Server.

The search display utility 124 displays the search results text data atthe remote client sites 102. The search display utility 124 uses ascripting language to display the search results text data. Preferably,the scripting language is Verity SEARCHScript. SEARCHScirpt provides acommon framework for developing Web applications with differentapplications. For example, SEARCHScript lets you customize search resultdisplays with commands to access the next page or the next document.(See “Introduction to Verity Search Technology”, pg 4.).

Preferably, the present invention displays the audio/video dataassociated with the search results using an on-demand video and audiostreaming server. Preferably, the streaming server is RealServer™ asexplained in “RealServer Administration and Content Creation Guide”, thecontents of which are herein incorporated by reference. The Web Browser134 executing on the remote clients 102 displays the web pages from thecentral server 106 including the fill-out form for data input, thefill-out form for input of search criteria and the search results textdata. The Web page containing the search results text data contains alink to a metafile. The Web Browser 134 executing on the remote clients102 requests the metafile from the central server 106 when the userclicks the link to the metafile.

The search display utility 124 delivers the metafile to the Web browser134. If the metafile has a .ram file extension, the search displayutility 124 sets the MIME type of the file to “audio/x-pn-RealAudio”. Ifthe metafile has a rpm file extension, the search display utility 124sets the MIME type of the file to “video/x-pn-RealVideo-plugin” or“audio/x-pn-RealAudio-plugin”. See RealServer Administration and ContentCreation Guide, pg 18.

The Web browser 134 starts up the helper application 136 uponencountering a metafile with a ram file extension or a rpm fileextension. Preferably, the helper application 136 is the RealPlayer,available from Real Networks Inc. The RealPlayer helper application 136reads the first URL from the metafile and requests it from theaudio/video server 132. Preferably, the audio/video server 132 is theRealServer, available from Real Networks Inc. The RealServer audio/videoserver 132 streams the requested video or audio clip to the RealPlayerhelper application 136.

The applications executing on the remote clients 102 communicate withthe applications executing on the central server 106 via thecommunication network 104. Preferably, the communication network 104 isthe World Wide Web.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention can contain a plurality ofremote client sites 102, a plurality of audio/video servers 132, aplurality of central servers 126 and a plurality of collection servers126 to support higher capacity requirements.

FIGS. 3a-3 d displays a sample fill-out form 300 for input of text data.In the preferred embodiment, the sample fill-out form contains thefollowing fields:

Name 310: This field specifies the first name, middle initial and lastname of the candidate seeking employment.

Address 312: This field specifies the street address, city, state andzip code of the candidate seeking employment.

Telephone and Fax Numbers 314: This field specifies the phone number, analternate phone number and a facsimile number of the candidate seekingemployment.

Email 316: This field contains the email address of the candidateseeking employment.

Personal URL 318: This field contains the personal URL of the candidateseeking employment.

Private 320: This field contains the privacy preference of the candidateseeking employment. If the candidate answers “Yes” to the privacyquestion, the employment search system will not return the candidate'sdata to search queries. Instead, the employment search system will onlyreveal the candidate's data to entities which have the candidate'sidentification number. Accordingly, the candidate can limit access tothe candidate's data to a select number of entities by answering “Yes”to the privacy question and by revealing the identification number onlyto those select number of entities.

Next Page 322: This field contains an HTML link to the next page in thefill-out form 300.

Associates Degree 324: This field identifies associates degreeinformation for the candidate seeking employment including the school,the major, the year and the grade point average (GPA).

Bachelor Degree 326: This field identifies bachelor degree informationfor the candidate seeking employment including the school, the major,the year and the GPA.

Master Degree 328: This field identifies masters degree information forthe candidate seeking employment including the school, the major, theyear and the GPA.

Doctorate Degree 330: This field identifies doctorate degree informationfor the candidate seeking employment including the school, the major andthe year.

Foreign Languages 332: This field identifies the foreign languageknowledge of the candidate seeking employment.

Professional Certifications 334: This field identifies the professionalcertifications of the candidate seeking employment.

Next Page 336: This field contains an HTML link to the next page in thefill-out form 300.

Commitment Interest 338: This field specifies whether the candidate isseeking full-time employment, part-time employment or both.

Field 340: This field specifies the field of interest of the candidateseeking employment.

Experience 342: This field specifies the number of years of experienceof the candidate seeking employment in the specified field 340.

Level 344: This field specifies the employment level sought by thecandidate.

Salary 346: This field specifies the salary requirement of the candidateseeking employment.

Travel 348: This field specifies the travel limitations of the candidateseeking employment.

Relocation 350: This field specifies whether the candidate seekingemployment is willing to relocate.

Availability 352: This field specifies when the candidate seekingemployment will be available to begin work.

Actively Looking 354: This field indicates whether the candidate seekingemployment is actively looking or is willing to consider a newopportunity.

Major Accomplishments 356: This field identifies the majoraccomplishments of the candidate seeking employment in addition to theaccomplishments previously specified in the fill-out form 300.

Next Page 357: This field contains an HTML link to the next page in thefill-out form 300.

Resume 358: This field includes the resume for the candidate seekingemployment.

Preferably, the indexed collection 120 in Verity comprises two sets oftables. The first set of tables corresponds to specialized fields whichare explicitly requested in the fill-out form 300. The second set oftables corresponds to data from the resume of the candidate seekingemployment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing the input and integrated storage oftext, audio, and video data. In step 202, the text input utility 108executing on the central server 106 processes the fill-out forms whichare displayed on a remote client 102 by the Web Browser 134 and storesthe data in a database 110. Similarly, in step 204, the text inpututility 108 executing on the central server 106 processes free formattext data such as a resume and stores the data in a text file.

After the candidate employee registers by sending a registration form,the service fee and an audio/video recording to REZVU^(SM), theaudio/video server 132 inputs the audio/video data and processes theaudio/video data to create digitized audio and digitized video files instep 206.

In step 208, the extraction utility 112 assembles the text data from thedatabase 110 for all registered candidates into the bulk insert file 114in accordance with the format defined by the style file 116. Theextraction utility 112 also provides a reference in the bulk insert file114 to the resume text file in step 208. Next, in step 212, the indexingutility 118, using the style file 116, transforms the data from the bif114 to an indexed collection 120 which can be accessed by the searchengine 128.

FIG. 5 displays a sample search fill-out form 500 for input of queriesat remote locations. In the preferred embodiment, the search fill-outform 500 contains the following fields:

Profession 502: This field specifies the profession which is desired bythe employer seeking employment candidates.

State 504: This field specifies the state of the business location wherethe employer seeks employment candidates.

Relocate 506: This field specifies whether the employer is willing torelocate employment candidates.

Level 508: This field specifies the employment level which is desired bythe employer seeking employment candidates.

Years of Experience 510: This field specifies the amount of experiencewhich is desired by the employer seeking employment candidates.

Salary Range 512: This field specifies the salary range which is desiredby the employer seeking employment candidates.

Degree 514: This field specifies the level of education which is desiredby the employer seeking employment candidates.

Associate Degree 516: This field specifies the associates degree whichis desired by the employer seeking employment candidates.

Bachelor Degree 518: This field specifies the bachelors degree which isdesired by the employer seeking employment candidates.

Foreign Languages 520: This field specifies the foreign language skillswhich are desired by the employer seeking employment candidates.

Travel 522: This field specifies the travel requirements of the employerseeking employment candidates.

Desired Employment 524: This field specifies whether the employer isseeking candidate employees for full-time employment, part timeemployment, independent contractor employment or all types ofemployment.

Resume Time Period 526: This field specifies the resume dates ofinterest to the employer seeking candidate employees.

Video Requirement 528: This field specifies whether the employer isinterested in candidates who do not have a video stored within theemployment system.

Keywords 530: This field contains either a standard full text query or aquery by example.

Candidate's User Id 532: This field specifies the user id of thecandidate seeking employment. The field can be used by employers whohave obtained the candidate's user id from the candidate. Accordingly,the field enables select employers to access data for candidates whohave specified the Private option 320.

Search 534: This field executes the search based on the search criteriainput by the user.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing the initiation of queries and thedynamic, selective display of the search results at remote locations. Instep 402, the query filter 140 executing on the central server 106defines search fill-out forms 500 (FIG. 5) which are displayed on aremote client 102 by the Web Browser 134. As previously explained by thediscussion of FIG. 5, the search fill-out form 500 contains fieldscorresponding to the specialized fields of the text fill-out form 300(502-528) and a field corresponding to resume data (530). In step 404,the query filter 140 processes the search criteria specified on thesearch fill-out forms 500 for both the specialized fields 502-528 andthe resume data 530 to create queries for the collection server 126.

Next, the query filter 140 may restrict the queries to a specificindexed collection 120 in step 406. Accordingly, the query filter 140may restrict the query within REZVO^(SM) to prevent searching of textdata associated with employment candidates who specified the Privateoption 320 on the text fill-out form 300.

After the employer seeking candidate employees hits the search HTML link534 on the search fill-out form 500, a search engine 128 searches theindexed collection 120 in accordance with the specified search criteriain step 410. Before performing the search, the search engine 128 parsesand optimizes the queries. See Database System Concepts, Chapter 9.

In step 412, the search display utility 124 forms the search results 600(FIG. 6) which are displayed on a remote client 102 by the Web Browser134. In step 413, the search display utility 124 and the Web browseroperate to display a candidate focus page 700 for the candidate selectedby the user (FIG. 7). In step 414, the search display utility 124 andthe Web browser 134 operate to display the resume of the candidateselected by the user (FIG. 8) when the user clicks a resume link. Instep 415, the search display utility 124, the Web browser 134, thehelper application 136, and the audio/video server 132 operate to playthe video and audio data associated with the displayed text data whenthe user clicks an audio/video link.

FIG. 6 displays a sample formatted page 600 of the search results.Preferably, the search results 600 contains the following fields:

Result Summary 602: This field identifies the number of employmentcandidates which met the search criteria and the number of employmentcandidates which are displayed on the search results 600.

focus link 604: This field contains a link to the candidate focus page700 (FIG. 7).

Associates Degree 606: This field specifies the academic record of theemployment candidate's Associates Degree including the major, graduationyear, school, and grade point average.

Bachelors 608: This field specifies the academic record of theemployment candidate's Bachelor's Degree including the major, graduationyear, school, and grade point average.

Masters 610: This field specifies the academic record of the employmentcandidate's Master's Degree including the major, graduation year,school, and grade point average.

Doctorate 612: This field specifies the academic record of theemployment candidate's Doctorate's Degree including the major,graduation year, school, and grade point average.

Certifications 614: This field specifies the certifications of theemployment candidate which could include a license to practice law, toprosecute patent applications before the Pat. and Trademark Office, aCertified Public Accountant, etc.

Desired Salary Range 616: This field specifies the salary range which isdesired by the employment candidate.

Desired Employment 618: This field specifies whether the employmentcandidate is seeking candidate a full-time position, a part-timeposition or an independent contractor position.

Travel 620: This field specifies the percentage of time which theemployment candidate is willing to travel.

Years of Experience 622: This field specifies the amount of experienceof the employment candidate.

Relocate 624: This field specifies whether the employment candidate iswilling to relocate for employment.

Major Career Accomplishments 626: This field specifies the major careeraccomplishments of the employment candidate.

FIG. 7 displays a sample candidate focus page 700 of the selectedresult. Preferably, the candidate focus page 700 contains the followingfields:

Name and Personal Data 702: This field contains the selected candidate'sname, address, phone number, fax number, email address, personal URL andREZVU^(SM) system number.

audio/video link 704: This field contains a link to play the audio andvideo associated with the employment candidate.

Associates Degree 706: This field specifies the academic record of theemployment candidate's Associates Degree including the major, graduationyear, school, and grade point average.

Bachelors 708: This field specifies the academic record of theemployment candidate's Bachelor's Degree including the major, graduationyear, school, and grade point average.

Masters 710: This field specifies the academic record of the employmentcandidate's Master's Degree including the major, graduation year,school, and grade point average.

Doctorate 712: This field specifies the academic record of theemployment candidate's Doctorate's Degree including the major,graduation year and school.

Certifications 714: This field specifies the certifications of theemployment candidate which could include a license to practice law, toprosecute patent applications before the Patent and Trademark Office, aCertified Public Accountant, etc.

Desired Salary Range 716: This field specifies the salary range which isdesired by the employment candidate.

Desired Employment 718: This field specifies whether the employmentcandidate is seeking candidate a full-time position, a part-timeposition or an independent contractor position.

Travel 720: This field specifies the percentage of time which theemployment candidate is willing to travel.

Years of Experience 722: This field specifies the amount of experienceof the employment candidate.

Relocate 724: This field specifies whether the employment candidate iswilling to relocate for employment.

Field 726: This field specifies the employment candidate's field.

Level 728: This field specifies the level of the employment candidate.

Availability 730: This field specifies when the employment candidatewill be available.

Actively Looking 732: This field specifies whether the employmentcandidate is actively looking.

resume link 704: This field contains a link to the employmentcandidate's resume.

FIG. 8 displays a sample resume page 800 associated with the selectedresult. Preferably, the resume page 800 contains the following fields:

Name and Personal Data 802: This field contains the selected candidate'sname, address, phone number, fax number, email address, personal URL andREZVU^(SM) system number.

resume 804: This field contains the resume of the employment candidate.

search results link 806: This field contains a link to return to thesearch results 600 (FIG. 6).

search link 808: This field contains a link to return to the search fillout form 500 (FIG. 5).

While the above invention has been described with reference to certainpreferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limitedto these embodiments. One skilled in the art may find variations ofthese preferred embodiments which, nevertheless, fall within the spiritof the present invention, whose scope is defined by the claims set forthbelow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria comprising: one or more servers comprising: at least oneinput utility for inputting text, audio, and video data wherein saidtext data comprises: predefined text data; and free format text data; atleast one database collection for integrated storing of said text,audio, and video data wherein said at least one input utility storessaid text, and video data in said at least one indexed collection; atleast one search system for inputting search criteria and for searchingsaid database collection for said text, audio, and video data matchingsaid search criteria; at least one audio/video system for dynamicallydisplaying said matching audio data and video data; at least one clientfor specifying said text, audio, video data and said search criteria andfor viewing said text, audio, and video data; and a communicationnetwork for communication between said one or more servers and said atleast one client.
 2. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 1 wherein said at least one input utilityfurther comprises: an audio/video input system for inputing said audiodata and said video data; and a text input utility for inputing saidtext data.
 3. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 2 wherein said audio/video input systemfurther comprises a video card for digitizing said audio and video data.4. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrievalof multimedia data in accordance with specified search criteria as inclaim 2 wherein said text input utility further comprises: a textprocessing utility for inputing said text data to a database; anextraction utility for assembling said text data from said database to abulk insert file; and an indexing utility for organizing said text datafrom said bulk insert file and said audio and video data into said atleast one indexed collection.
 5. A system for multimedia data storageand dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance withspecified search criteria as in claim 4 further comprising a style filefor defining a format of said bulk insert file.
 6. A system formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim 4 whereinsaid text processing utility inputs said text data from a data inputfill-out form.
 7. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 6 wherein a hypertext mark up languagedefines a format of said data input fill-out form.
 8. A system formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim 6 whereinsaid text processing utility is a script for manipulating said textdata.
 9. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selectiveretrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specified searchcriteria as in claim 6 wherein said text processing utility is a programfor manipulating said text data.
 10. A system for multimedia datastorage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 1 wherein saidsearch system further comprises: a query filter for parsing said searchcriteria and creating corresponding queries and for restricting saidcorresponding queries to predetermined data of said text, audio andvisual data; a search engine for searching said at least one indexedcollection for said search criteria; and a search display utility fordisplaying said text, audio, and video data matching said searchcriteria.
 11. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 10 wherein said search engine searches saidat least one indexed collection by executing said corresponding queriesfrom said query filter.
 12. A system for multimedia data storage anddynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance withspecified search criteria as in claim 10 wherein said query filterparses said search criteria from a search fill-out form.
 13. A systemfor multimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval ofmultimedia data in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim12 wherein a hypertext mark up language defines a format of said searchfill-out form.
 14. A system for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 12 wherein said query filter furthercomprises a script for manipulating said search criteria.
 15. A systemfor multimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval ofmultimedia data in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim12 wherein said query filter further comprises a program formanipulating said search criteria.
 16. A system for multimedia datastorage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 1 wherein saidcommunication network is the World Wide Web.
 17. A system for multimediadata storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 1 wherein saidindexed collection comprises: at least one first table corresponding tosaid predefined text data; and at least one second table correspondingto said free format text data.
 18. A system for multimedia data storageand dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance withspecified search criteria as in claim 1 wherein: said predefined textdata is data associated with an employment candidate; said free formattext data is resume data; and said audio and video data is anaudio/visual recording of the employment candidate.
 19. A method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria comprising the stepsof: inputing text, audio and video data with at least one input utilityexecuting on one or more servers comprising the step of: partitioningthe text data into predefined text data and free format text data;integrated storing of said text, audio, and video data in at least oneindexed collection with the at least one input utility; inputing searchcriteria and searching the indexed collection for the text, audio, andvideo data matching the search criteria with at least one search system;dynamically displaying the matching audio data and video data with atleast one audio/video system; specifying the text, audio, and video dataand the search criteria with at least one client; viewing the matchingtext, audio, and video data with the at least one client; andcommunicating between the one or more servers and the at least oneclient with a communication network.
 20. A method for multimedia datastorage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 19 wherein saidinputing text, audio and video data step further comprises the steps of:inputing the audio data and the video data with an audio/video inputsystem; and inputing the text data with a text input utility.
 21. Amethod for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval ofmultimedia data in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim20 wherein said inputing the audio data and the video data step furthercomprises the step of digitizing the audio and video data with anaudio/video card.
 22. A method for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 20 wherein said inputing the text data stepfurther comprises the steps of: inputing the text data to a databasewith a text processing utility; assembling the text data from thedatabase to a bulk insert file with an extraction utility; andorganizing the text data from the bulk insert file and the audio andvideo data into the at least one indexed collection with an indexingutility.
 23. A method for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selectiveretrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specified searchcriteria as in claim 22 wherein said assembling the text data stepfurther comprises the step of defining a format of the bulk insert filewith a style file.
 24. A method for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 22 wherein said inputing said text data stepinputs the text data from a data input fill out form.
 25. A method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim 24 whereinsaid inputing the text data step further comprises the step of defininga format of the data input fill out form with a hypertext mark uplanguage.
 26. A method for multimedia data storage and dynamic,selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specifiedsearch criteria as in claim 24 wherein said inputing the text data stepfurther comprises the step of manipulating the text data with a script.27. A method for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selectiveretrieval of multimedia data in accordance with specified searchcriteria as in claim 24 wherein said inputing the text data step furthercomprises the step of manipulating the text data with a program.
 28. Amethod for multimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval ofmultimedia data in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim19 wherein said inputing search criteria and searching the indexedcollection step further comprises the steps of: parsing the searchcriteria and creating corresponding queries with a query filter;restricting the corresponding queries to predetermined data of the text,audio and visual data with the query filter; searching the at least oneindexed collection for the search criteria with a search engine; anddisplaying the text, audio, and video data matching the search criteriawith a search display utility.
 29. A method for multimedia data storageand dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance withspecified search criteria as in claim 28 wherein said searching said atleast one indexed collection further comprises the step of executing thecorresponding queries from the query filter.
 30. A method for multimediadata storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 28 wherein saidparsing the search criteria step parses the search criteria from asearch fill-out form.
 31. A method for multimedia data storage anddynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data in accordance withspecified search criteria as in claim 28 wherein said parsing the searchcriteria step further comprises the step of formatting the search fillout form with a hypertext mark up language.
 32. A method for multimediadata storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 19 wherein saidcommunicating step uses the World Wide Web.
 33. A method for multimediadata storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 32 wherein saidparsing the search criteria step further comprises the step ofmanipulating the search criteria with a script.
 34. A method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim 32 whereinsaid parsing the search criteria step further comprises the step ofmanipulating the search criteria with a program.
 35. A method formultimedia data storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimediadata in accordance with specified search criteria as in claim 19 whereinsaid integrated storing of the text, audio, and video data furthercomprises the steps of: defining at least one first table correspondingto the predefined text data; and defining at least one second tablecorresponding to the free format text data.
 36. A method for multimediadata storage and dynamic, selective retrieval of multimedia data inaccordance with specified search criteria as in claim 19 wherein saidinputted text, audio and video data further comprises the step of:associating the predefined text data with data about an employmentcandidate; defining the free format text data as resume data; anddefining the audio and video data as an audio/visual recording of theemployment candidate.